A monument in Stone

Mumbai8217;s aerial landscape will soon offer a view of the world8217;s largest stone monument 8212; the Global Pagoda 8212; which is nearing completion.

Mumbai8217;s aerial landscape will soon offer a view of the world8217;s largest stone monument 8212; the Global Pagoda 8212; which is nearing completion. A replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, one of the most famous and revered Pagodas in the world, the Global Pagoda will have a lot to boast about when it is thrown open to the public later this year. Apart from being the largest stone monument, it is also the largest dome ever built without any supporting pillars.

Built with sandstone from Jodhpur, the construction has involved two sets of workers. While one set works on site in Gorai where the Pagoda is built, another set works in Pindwara, Rajasthan, cutting and dressing the stone so that it arrives at the site in ready-to-fix blocks.

8220;We have nearly completed the stone work, and by November it should all be done since we are planning a one-day course in December,8221; says R K Aggrawal, administration in charge at the site. 8220;The stones are such that they inter-lock with each other once they are placed, which makes the structure extremely firm,8221; he adds.

The dome, being hollow unlike its counterpart, the Shwedagon Pagoda, allows 8000 people to be seated and meditate within. The centre of the dome will have an elevated, circular stage, which will act as a turntable, completing a rotation in approximately half-an-hour.

8220;This is done so that everyone present can see Acharya S N Goenka, who is behind this project, as he is conducting the Vipassana,8221; says Aggrawal. The size of the dome is twice as large as the Gol Gumbaz dome in Bijapur, which used to be the largest hollow dome in the world.

8220;The entire construction is done in a way that allows Buddha8217;s teachings to come through. It goes from a broad base to a needle at the top. Starting with an octagonal construction, then a hexagon, a circle, a cylinder and a crystal symbolising a needle at the very top of the entire structure,8221; says M M Khandhar, an engineer and mediatator associated with the project. The centre of the dome has a large flower-shaped motif plated in real gold.

Genuine relics of Buddha, bones donated by the Mahabodhi society have been enshrined in the Global Pagoda. The site will also have two smaller Pagodas beside it. 8220;Though these smaller Pagodas have no real functional purpose, they will be used to display information about Buddha and about other meditation courses etc,8221; says Khandhar.

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There will also be a meditation centre, where Buddha8217;s teachings will be disseminated and ten-day courses will be made available to those interested. 8220;The Burmese initially modelled their pagodas after the Shanti Stupa as a means of expressing their gratitude since it was from India that the Buddha set out. Now we are showing the Burmese gratitude for bringing his teachings back to us,8221; Khandhar adds.